Mike Hinkel and his parents traveled from Arabia to Stockton at just five years old. Mike, aka Big John, was known as the wild kid in his youth, and at 17, he had a choice to make: join the Marines or face jail time. "It didn't take long before my survival instincts kicked in, and I enlisted with the Marines." This decision led him to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and eventually to the Special Ops Force Recon, where his extensive training added another year to his service. 

During his service, Mike was halo-certified in high-altitude low-opening services and trained to jump out of high-altitude planes. He is also a combat swimmer and scuba-certified. After completing his service, he then joined the roofer’s union for 35 years. 

He and his wife Carolyn, now married for 26 years, wanted to raise their two adopted daughters, who were also sisters, in a better environment. Mike was still working as a roofer in the Bay Area, so they moved to Oakdale. They immediately fell in love with the small-town feel and strong community. 

He returned to school at MJC to take advantage of the veteran services and enrolled in a full schedule of classes. After he stopped working the demanding job of a roofer, his PTSD began to resurface. With the support of Ron, his college counselor, he regained his footing. This enabled him to assist other veterans in enrolling in classes and achieving their goals. Ultimately, he was awarded six scholarships. 

Currently, Mike is actively involved in the local community through Veterans in Action and Faith, Family, and Community. His favorite roles are with Veterans in Need and Suicide Prevention, which hold special significance for him. Being part of these groups gives Mike a renewed sense of purpose. He is also engaged with the Oakdale Rescue Mission and participates in the Patriot Run for Care2You. This activity helps him maintain discipline and brings him great satisfaction, especially when he reunites with other Marines, likening the experience to seeing a long-lost brother.